August 5th, 2026 VECAN E-News
Happy August!
It's hard to believe we're already flipping our calendars to another month. The days still feel like summer, but the nights are growing longer, and the season is beginning its steady march toward fall. So take advantage of these final weeks of summer! Gather with neighbors, enjoy local events, start conversations, and take a moment to reflect on the projects, partnerships, and people making a difference in your community.
As climate change impacts continue to shape communities across Vermont, we’re reminded of both the challenges ahead and the incredible work happening every day to meet them. That’s why we’re excited to share a new resource we’ve added to the VECAN website: our Resilience & Adaptation page.
Local energy committees, conservation commissions, and community groups have an important role to play in building safer, healthier, and more resilient communities. Every weatherization project, every solar installation, every resilience effort, and every conversation with a neighbor moves us in the right direction. We can’t do it without you.
So, let’s keep it going strong, folks! Read on for news, resources, and upcoming events, and, as always, respond to info@vecan.net with any opportunities we might have missed (or just to say hi!).
IN THE NEWS
July was hot in Vermont – really, really hot. During the stretch of highest temperatures, Green Mountain Power’s growing network of home batteries and other distributed energy storage resources (i.e. a virtual power plant) helped reduce peak demand by 90MW. That’s like taking 50,000 homes off the grid. Poof – gone! Additionally, GMP’s clean, stored energy drove down peak energy costs by approximately $6 million for customers throughout early July’s extreme heat event.
Luckily, you don’t need to be part of a utility-scale program to benefit from energy storage. Batteries come in all shapes and sizes, and while large home systems often get the spotlight, smaller plug-and-play options are opening up new possibilities for households. These portable power stations can provide backup power, improve resilience, and help people take advantage of clean energy without a major installation. Read more about portable power stations here.
Solar continues to reach new heights across the country. California produced 51% of its electricity through solar panels (i.e. utility-scale installations and rooftop arrays) in May, a world first. No other major economy has ever received over half its electricity from solar for an entire month.
Meanwhile, Virginia just became the fourth state to pass legislation supporting agrivoltaics. The state – which is experiencing a surge in energy demand from its abundance of data centers and a troubling trend of disappearing farmland – is pursuing agrivoltaics as a strategy for handling both issues. These projects allow farmland to remain productive while generating clean electricity, creating new opportunities for rural communities. Read more about how Virginia farmers are increasingly viewing solar panels as a “partner” and not a “replacement” for crops.
As solar continues to grow rapidly, many states and utilities are rethinking how the energy your home solar generates is integrated into the electric grid. Net metering – where customers receive a credit back from their utility for the solar electricity that they generate – is increasingly being phased out. Since the 2010s, utilities across the country have moved away from traditional net metering programs towards systems that credit extra solar at lower rates. These changes mean rooftop solar takes longer to pay for itself, making it more expensive to access the financial benefits of going solar.
New data from the Joint Economic Committee shows that rising fuel costs are putting additional pressure on farmers across the country, including right here in Vermont. According to the analysis, Vermont farmers have spent at least $1,479 more to fill their farm fuel tanks compared with the same period last year. With energy costs continuing to affect households, businesses, and farms alike, this data highlights the broader impacts of fuel price volatility on Vermont’s rural communities.
In our last newsletter, we wrote about the growing pushback against large-scale data centers and the questions communities across the country are asking about their impacts on electricity demand, water resources, and local infrastructure.
This week, Texas took additional action to rein in its approach to data center development. Governor Greg Abbott announced a moratorium on approving new data centers seeking connection to the state’s electric grid until regulators complete a comprehensive audit of proposed projects. The review will examine electricity demand, water use, tax incentives, ownership, and potential impacts on local communities. According to Gov. Abbott, projects that fail to meet state requirements will be denied grid access.
With Governor Scott’s veto of a proactive data center siting bill for Vermont, our communities have few protections from the potential deployment of large-scale AI data centers in Vermont. The meteoric rise of power-hungry, thirsty, and noisy facilities has many Vermonters concerned and interested in taking steps to put safeguards in place that avoid the high costs and consequences of data center development. To find out more about what you can do and to get involved, contact advocacy@vnrc.org.
Vermont Attorney General Charity Clark recently joined a multistate lawsuit challenging the Trump Administration’s efforts to limit state authority to regulate hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), powerful greenhouse gases commonly used in commercial refrigeration and air conditioning equipment. Vermont and other states argue that these protections are an important tool for reducing climate pollution and addressing the impacts of these potent greenhouse gases.
In another development, the Trump Administration acknowledged in federal court filings that $7.5bn in clean energy grants were canceled based solely on the political identity of recipient states. Regardless of your political identity, this should concern you. We are talking about holding back taxpayer dollars that would’ve supported investments to make our energy more affordable, clean, and accessible. The disclosure has drawn criticism from lawmakers, including Senator Peter Welch, who joined Senate colleagues in calling on the Administration to restore funding and reverse what they rightly label as politically motivated cancellations.
RESOURCES & INFO
Vermont’s Primary Election will be held next Tuesday, August 11th!
We’re officially in August, which means (drumroll please) that it’s election season in Vermont! If you’ve been noticing a colorful array of yard signs, mailers, and campaign conversations around your community, that’s a sure sign that the August 11 primary is right around the corner.
With early voting already underway, now’s the time to make a plan to vote and learn more about the candidates and issues shaping communities across the state. VTDigger’s How to Vote in Vermont’s 2026 Primary Election guide provides helpful information on voting deadlines, early voting, and what to expect on Election Day. You can also check out Seven Days’ 2026 Vermont Primary Guide to learn more about the candidates and races on your ballot.
Green Driving America Campaign Offer For Fall 2026
Thanks to funding from an Upper Valley foundation, Green Driving America (formerly Idle-Free VT) is offering its Schools Are Not Drive-Thrus project idle-free study/campaign to classroom educators or advisors to school environmental clubs/green teams for one Vermont middle or high school for the fall 2026 semester. These student-led, measured campaigns are in four steps over six to 10 weeks (about a 20-hour timeline). They address the harm and waste of largely unnecessary idling, when about 50 percent of the vehicles are continuously idling during the daily 15- to 30-minute dismissal period. The goal of this environmental and health project is to empower students to make a difference at their school in reductions of CO2 emissions and fossil fuel use, and improving local air quality.
For details, visit https://greendrivingamerica.org or contact Green Driving America executive director Wayne Michaud at info@greendrivingamerica.org.
New Community Resources from Efficiency Vermont
Efficiency Vermont (EVT) just launched an updated webpage of community resources designed for municipalities, volunteers, and local organizations working to advance energy efficiency. The new resources include outreach materials, planning tools, educational resources, and other materials to help support local energy efforts. You can sign up for their community partner newsletters and dive into the new resources on EVT’s website!
Create Climate Factsheets Tailored to Your Community
Climate change conversations can look very different depending on where you live. What might be the prevailing opinion in Burlington might not be the same in the rural Northeast Kingdom, and vice versa. The Yale Program on Climate Change Communication’s Factsheets tool helps communities move beyond national averages by providing local information about climate beliefs, risk perceptions, and policy preferences.
The customizable tool allows users to create factsheets for all 50 states, congressional districts, and counties across the country. This resource can help local energy committees, municipalities, and community organizations better understand how their neighbors view climate change and support more informed conversations about local climate action.
Whether you are preparing a presentation, planning an outreach event, or looking for new ways to engage your community, these factsheets provide a useful snapshot of local perspectives.
Public Engagement Plan for the 2028 Vermont Comprehensive Energy Plan
We’re sharing this (again) to encourage local energy committees and community leaders to participate and share their perspectives. The experiences and insights of people working on the ground in communities across Vermont need to have a role in shaping the state’s energy future.
The Department of Public Service announced its Public Engagement Plan for the 2028 Comprehensive Energy Plan. The following goals will drive the strategy for the CEP Public Engagement and how the Department will communicate with Vermonters:
Engage with a wide variety of Vermonters
Offer many opportunities to provide feedback
Incorporate past engagement while bringing in new voices
Be transparent in how feedback shared during engagement is (or is not) used in the CEP
Collaborate with community partners and across state agencies
For more information on engagement activities, visit 2028 Comprehensive Energy Plan | Department of Public Service and read the 2028 Comprehensive Energy Plan Public Engagement Plan.
EVENTS
Solarfest: The Gathering
Join us this weekend, Saturday, August 8, from 10:00am–5:00pm, for a day of community, creativity, and celebration at SolarFest: The Gathering! This free family-friendly festival brings together music, art, workshops, local vendors, delicious food, and activities for all ages.
Located at the beautiful SolarFest Center in Brandon, Vermont, The Gathering is a celebration of sustainability, community connection, and the joy of coming together under the summer sun. Whether you're dancing to live music, browsing local crafts, participating in hands-on workshops, or letting the kids explore the children's area, there's something for everyone.
We will be there throughout the day, and we’d love to see you! Stop by, say hello, grab a sticker, and let’s talk about the great energy work happening in communities across Vermont!
VPIRG AND VCV's Get out the Vote Training
With election season underway, now is a great time to learn how to help your community participate in the democratic process. On Tuesday, August 18, at 6:00pm, join VPIRG and Vermont Conservation Voters for a free virtual Get Out the Vote training and learn the basics of effective canvassing.
Participants will learn canvassing essentials, receive voter education and registration materials, and have the opportunity to ask questions ahead of the midterm election.
Register for the training here.
Save the Date! 2026 Efficiency Vermont’s Best Practices Exchange
Efficiency Vermont is pleased to announce that the 2026 Best Practices Exchange (BPX) will once again be held in-person on September 23rd & 24th at the Killington Grand Resort Hotel in Killington, Vermont.
At BPX, C&I facility managers, decision makers, experienced mechanical contractors, and relevant product manufacturers join Efficiency Vermont’s Account Management and Energy Consultant teams to share industry best practices, connect with peers, and explore new approaches to improving energy performance.
The 2026 event will feature keynote speaker Jed Davis, Vice President of Strategic Engagement & Sustainability at Agri-Mark/Cabot Creamery, along with sessions focused on energy leadership in manufacturing, campus-wide energy improvements, refrigeration strategies, cost management, and emerging technologies.
For more information and registration details, visit Efficiency Vermont’s BPX webpage.
Save the Date! 2026 Energy Action Network Annual Summit
Save the date for September 23, 2026 in Essex, Vermont. Join EAN members and partners from across Vermont to learn about the latest data and analysis on energy affordability and Vermont’s energy and climate commitments, hear from energy leaders from Vermont and beyond sharing new ideas, and connect with other energy leaders from around the state.
The day will feature the latest research and insights on Vermont’s energy landscape, conversations with leaders working on innovative solutions, and opportunities to connect, collaborate, and share ideas with others working toward a cleaner, more affordable, and more resilient energy future.
More details about speakers and the agenda will be available later on. Registration is now open, with early bird pricing available through August 24. Learn more and register.
Thank you for all you do!
Ford Young, Climate Action Coordinator
